Combined multiple suspenders and brace



H. A. HEATH.

COMBINED MULTIPLE SUSPENDERS AND BRACE- APPLICATION FILED AUG-5,1918-RENEWED OCT. 11.1919.

1,327,041 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSIHEET 1'.

I'NVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY HA.HEAT&

COMBINED MULTIPLE SUSPENDERS AND BRACE.

APPHCATION HLED AUG.5.I91H- RENEWED 0CT.I7.19I9

1 27,041: 1 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. HEATH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED MULTIPLE SUSPENDERS AND BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed August 5, 1918, Serial No. 248,387. Renewed October17, 1919. Serial No. 331,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. HEATH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful. Improvements in Combined MultipleSuspenders and Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates togarment supporting means, and aims to providean article of this nature which may be used as a supporter and brace,and which will readily adapt itself to the variousmovements of the body,and equalize the strain and thereby prevent undue stress upon either thegarment or the supporter.

A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a garmentsupporter of the character hereinbefore specified, which will enable theready uncoupling and coupling of the cast-01f to the shoulder engagingportion, so that the garment may be removed or displaced withoutrequiring the removal or displacement of the shoulder engaging portionof the supporter. f

The invention furthermore aims to provide a supporter of the suspendertype, which may be readily adjusted to or removed from the person, andwhich in service will not cause discomfort or annoyance by producingundue strain or pressure at one or more points. 1 p 9 1 The drawingillustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is tobe understood that in adaptingthe same to meet different conditions,various changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of theinvention as claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings Figure l is a front view of the torso, showing a garmentsupporter in operative position and constructed in accordance with thepresent invention,

Fig. 2 is a view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1 as seen from therear,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cast-off hook and adjusting slide, clamp,or buckle applied to a portion of the webbing,

Fig. iis an edge View of a cast-off hook and part of the webbingassociated therewith,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of a metal end piece applied to theend of a webbing, and showing an adjusting clamp or buckle in positionon the webbing,

F1g. 6 is an edge view of a metal. end piece and the webbing associatedtherewith,

F 1g. 7 is a view in elevation of the metal plate located at the pointof crossing of the webbing in the rear,

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the adjusting slide clamp applied to theshoulder strap for receiving an end of the under-arm web,

Fig. 9 is a detail view of an end portion of the under-arm web or strap,and the metal end applied thereto, 7

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 of the opposite end portion of theunder-arm web or strap showing the metal end and the adjusting slideclamp applied thereto, and

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a multiple cord suspender end.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views, of the drawings, by likereference characters.

The suspender and brace comprising" parts of the supporter, comprisesshoulder straps 1, under-arm straps or webs 2, cast-offs 3, and suitablebuckles and metal ends.

The several straps or webs may be elastic or non-elastic, or compriseselastic or nonelastic portions such as commonly practised in theconstruction ofgarment supporting means of the suspender type. Theshoulder straps cross in the rear, and a metal plate i is secured to thestraps at the point of crossing by suitable fastening means such asrivets 5. The lower ends of the straps or webs 1 below the point ofcrossing may be elastic and the portions above the point of crossingnon-elastic. Both end portions of the straps l are made adjustable asindicated most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and for this purpose adjustingslide clamps or buckles 6 are provided, the same being of any well knownconstruction common in the manufacture of suspenders. Metal ends areapplied to the extremities of the shoulder straps, and are supported bythe bights thereof in the usual manner. These metal ends consist ofcast-off hooks 7, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4:.

The cast-offs 3 consist of cord and are adapted to make detachableconnection with the cast-off hooks T, and also to have free movement inthe hooks of the cast-off end pieces 7, whereby provision is had forequalizing the strain during the various movements of the body. Eachcast-off 3 is adapted to make connection with the front buttons 8, therear buttons 9, and the side buttons 10, applied to the waist-band ofthe garment to be supported. The portions of each ofthe cast-oifs 3between thebuttons are upwardly deflected and engaged by the hooks ofthe cast-off ends 7 Each under-arm strap or web 2 is provided at itsends with a metal end 11, and an end portion is provided with anadjusting slide clamp or buckle 6, whereby provision is had forlengthening and shortening the under-arm strap or web, each metal endpiece 11 is provided with a headed stud 12, which is of oblong form. Theplate 4: is prpvided at opposite sides with oblong openings13 which areadapted to receive the ob long heads of the studs 12, whereby the metalends 11 are adapted to make detachable connection with the plate 4:.Each of the shoulder straps 1 is providedadjacent the part passing overthe shoulder with an adjusting slide clamp 14, in which is formed anoblong opening 15 to receive the oblong head of the stud 12 at the frontend of the under-arm strap or web 2. The end portions of the straps orwebs 2 are widened wherein the intermediate portions passing beneath thearms are reduced in width so as to .prevent annoying contact or pressureupon the person.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the straps or webs 1 and:2 cooperate to encircle the shoulders and provide a brace to hold theperson erect and prevent a cramping of the chest which interferes withfree respiration and is a source of lung trouble. By having the straps 2detachably connected with the shoulder straps, in the manner set forth,such straps may be readily coupled to and disconnected from the shoulderstraps. The cast-offs 3 may be quickly engaged with or disengaged fromthe shoulder straps, thereby enabling the garment to be prevent anyundue stress coming uponthe' garment or the supporter.

Having thus fully describedmy invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Incombination with the shoulder straps of suspenders provided in the frontand in the rear with elements havingoblong openings, under-arm strapsprovided at their ends with metal pieces provided with oblong headedstuds which are adapted to coact with the oblong openings of the metalelements to make detachable connection with the shoulder straps.

2. Suspenders, comprising straps which cross near one of their ends, aplate applied to the straps at their crossing, end portions of thestraps being folded, buckles adjust ably connecting the folded ends ofthe stra s to the main portions'thereof, cast olf hoo is supported inthe bights of the straps, suspender ends engaging the cast off hooks,slide clamps adjustable on the front portions of the straps, andadjustable under-arm straps detachably connected at their ends with thesaid plate and slide clamps.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. HEATH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES O. PETTERsoN, JAMES T. MURPHY.

